Page 3 of M.A.Y.A
“Like you’d have a choice if you found her,” Alex replied. “You’ll soon realize that a mate will make you stronger.”
“I’m not like my parents, Alex. I’m not like other Alphas.”
“Isaiah, you’re wrong if you think you’d let your pack down because your mate will come first. Until you figure that out for yourself, you should work on blowing off some steam.”
Isaiah snorted.
Alex’s expression went solemn. “I’m worried about you.”
“I appreciate it, but my gut tells me this is not the time for distraction. As peaceful as it’s been, something is coming.”
“I told you, enjoy the peace,” Alex said. “Between the businesses in town, the work we do in conservation, and the alliances we’ve made, our pack is profitable, we’re healthy, and the only discord we’re experiencing is because you can’t get your dick to?—”
The high-pitched alarm on his desk was sharp enough to make him wince because of his sensitive ears. He switched it off and picked up his receiver.
“Alpha,” Drayden said as Isaiah answered on the first ring. His voice was filled with an urgency that had Isaiah’s spine going ramrod straight.
Something’s wrong. Something’s off.
“We have a problem,” Drayden continued. His Greek accent was thicker than usual. “Perimeter breech, unauthorized entry. Western border. Deep in the brush, next to the Franz Ravine. No one has approached yet. Form looks human but our heat detector isn’t giving us an accurate reading…”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the form doesn’t appear to be fully…human? They could be wearing some kind of armor that is preventing us to pick up certain parts of the body, but the scan looks like it’s not reading a full person. It’s so bizarre.”
“Alex and I will check it out,” Isaiah said. “Be ready if we need backup, but if it’s a solo entry, then it may just be a lost hiker.”
“You think it’s a lost hiker that got this far into our border without detection? Near the Franz Ravine so close to the central Den? It’s common for them to wander around the perimeter, but there is no way all our surveillance technology and guards could’ve missed them this far inside our land. It’s never happened before.”
“First time for everything. Since we’ve signed new land treaties, we’re going to see people push our limits.”
“I still don’t like it, Alpha,” Drayden said. “This is Oregon. We’re not talking about our new territories in Alaska and BC. It’s close to home. All I’m saying is…be careful.”
With that Drayden hung up, and Isaiah slipped his cell into his pocket. “You up for a run?” he said to Alex.
His second-in-command unfolded his long limbs from the chair. He ran a hand through his hair again, and with a grunt, replied. “Yeah, as long as you don’t say it.”
They headed to the door before Isaiah responded. “Alex, I fuckingtold youthat something was off.”
“I know you’re Alpha, but you don’t have to be right all the time,” his Beta mumbled.
* * *
It took them twenty minutes of running in human form to get to the coordinates that Drayden had texted him. As they reached closer to their destination, Isaiah felt a prickling under his skin. The wolf inside him wanted out. The animal knew something was off, too. He was strangely on alert in a way that Isaiah had never felt before.
A damp line of sweat formed between Isaiah’s shoulder blades as he and his second began their slow approach to the clearing.
Who could possibly have ventured into this part of Den territory? Hunting was forbidden in their lands, and any illegal hunting was met with swift pack retribution. Usually that was enough to dissuade even the bravest of intruders. Camping was also forbidden in the surrounding areas, but around the borders, there were usually some who ventured across the invisible line. Hikers were happy to move when they were met with perimeter guards though.
As if Alex read his mind, he said, “Drayden is right. This is too far inland to be accidental. How would someone like a hiker end up here without any detection?” Even though he was thirty feet away, circling the location from the rear, Isaiah heard his words as if they were whispered directly in his ear.
“If it’s a hostile entry, they may be armed,” Isaiah responded. “Stay vigilant.”
He wasn’t carrying any human weapons to defend himself. He didn’t need to; he was faster and stronger than most assailants. But if he was shot, and it wasn’t a head wound, he’d die. A head wound was the only guaranteed fatal injury by bullet. He could easily manage any other form of attack.
The hair on the back of his neck stood on end, his claws pricking under his fingertips as he moved closer to the clearing. The forest was dense here, wet and dark. Now that the sun was setting, the cool fall air began to chill.
That’s when he smelled her for the first time.
